Treatment for IBS and how I think I have another underlying health issue.

Hi , I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I can only imagine how hard it must be to live with constant pain like this. I hope that you'll get some answers when the test results come in - but even if you don't, please don't stop advocating for yourself.
Have you tried adjusting your diet yet or keeping a food journal (https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/food-journal-download) to figure out if something you eat might be contributing to the symptoms? Speaking from personal experience, changing your diet can have a huge impact on how you're feeling. I felt horrible for around 2 years until I started the Low FODMAP diet (https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/ibs-diet) and things got a lot better.
This is only my opinion, but I would try to focus less on weight loss or how you look for now and just try to manage the symptoms first. Have you tried working with a dietitian to make sure that you get all the nutrients that you need?
Some people also see great improvement when working with naturopathic doctors, I'm going to link 2 articles below:
https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/naturopath-experience
https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/naturopathy-treatment
I hope this helps and that you'll start feeling better soon.
Wishing you all the best, Karina (team member)

Hi thanks for the reply. Thanks for the links. The FODMAPS I've had a look over. The low vs high I've done everything possible to cut out almost everything because no matter how well I eat how healthy it is many foods that are in the low category are my go to foods always have been. But no matter what food it is and how little or much I eat always the same issue pain gets worse every time. I got tested for lactose and gluten etc... came back fine but coffee black is one of my favourite drinks and I havent had a coffee this year as I thought milk was an issue if I was at work I'd have it with milk like a latte. Was my birthday just a week ago today I've been eating super clean and drinking anywhere between 3-5 litres of water a day only 1 meal day as I cannot stomach more the more meals I have even if small the pain gets worse and worse. So I can only eat once per day and usually 3 hours before sleep and for example I had just eggs chicken a veg. We ordered in for my birthday and stomach was excatly the same as eating normal/healthy. I've been taking multivitamins to make sure I'm not depleted I get bloods done almost every 4 weeks to measure where I'm low in so I added extra vitamin D and b-12 has had no issue on stomach soreness etc... I'll have a look at the other links see if I can find anything else I havent figured out. I don't have the food journal you have sent but I made my own. I've been focusing on how to manage the pain than loose weight but I thought tackling both at same time should work like I said I get in good shape every year prior 2019 being the last year around 6% bodyfat but I can't get rid of pain I've never been giving anything to manage the pain until they know what's going on as they done want to rupture an ulcer if I have that too they said I have IBS but they also think there's another 3 or 4 things going on at the same time. It's so hard because I feel like I'm just failing in life now and letting people down and that isn't me. Again thanks for the reply as I've read online and comments of products like probiotics reviews people describe very similar issues to me my pain doesn't drop below 10 ever. Start of the day is the worst then 6 hours into my day it peaks in pain again and again before bed but I'm in bed I can deal with that I sleep around 8 hours every night. So I'm well rested but I know when I wake up I already know how ill feel because its been so long I know now and still struggling to get up out of bed to feed the cats take the dog out I can't do that at all when I wake up now. Also I look after my mother full time as she Has Multiple sclerosis she's in the later stage of it acting like dementia at times and needs help with toilet snd turned in her sleep etc... all this started around the time my dad passed but I don't think it's linked I'm not a stressed out guy I handle situations quite well I think ofcourse there's stresses in life but I've limted it quite abit. Who knows excatly hoping the scans shows something and hopefully get to the root and take it from there 100% knowing what's going on is the goal I'm aiming towards.

Oh dear, I am so sorry you are in this incredible pain, and I think we grieve too, for a life that's suddenly taken away by IBS. I felt very much the same.

The terrible pain you are in....I do hope the tests you are having can get to the bottom of that. Does any painkiller touch it at all?

I am much older than you, and don't have the pressures of expectation from others upon me as you do, as much younger person. But even though I'm not far off 70, I was always athletic, ate well, I was fit and well, walked miles, processed my own firewood and did heavy work sometimes about the place, on my land etc. My energy was great.
So I haven't had IBS very long, but I honestly thought I was dying and it came on quite suddenly in March 2020.
Got some tests done and no red flags so the doc. said IBS, but nevertheless it felt like my life had gone down the plughole.

I had to immediately adjust my diet to eat only what suited me and didn't cause upsets no matter what other people thought. Fortunately I live alone and can do what I like and cook from scratch, pretty healthy foods (now!) but def. a diet change from what I used to eat.
I identified the foods fairly quickly -what suited and what was bad guts in the morning scenario. That really helped.
I got homeopathic treatment which has been a long haul but it has brought me many times of normality, and recently (fingers crossed!!) I have actually been feeling a lot like my old self.

This is a really hard thing to come to terms with but I actually advise you to confide in your partner. She may not fully understand if she's never had IBS, but at least she will know it's because you are feeling very unwell, but you still love her and fancy her....etc.
Be creative with your lovemaking. Some things may be too much for you, and some things much gentler, if you get my meaning. And loving hugs and cuddles go a long way too.



The stresses with your mother too are so difficult. I know because my mother had dementia in her last few years and needed nursing care basically. Her body was a mess too. Can you get any kind of help from social services? I know that's easily said, and the system leaves so much to be desired, but there has to be some kind of help which may slightly ease your burden as you are unwell yourself.

Please don't lose all hope. But someone (i.e GI specialist or GP) needs to get to grips with a pain management strategy for you and don't be fobbed off! You need help.
Wishing you all the best, sending kind healing thoughts and prayers your way.

thanks for that. Ive tried everything food wise even singled out food just to see if it helps no matter if its just eggs chicken beef or fish veg etc... one day I tried one of each for 6 days not a single budge. Whatever is causing this just won't go away or ease up. GP eat 3 meals a day that's hard because when I wake up I can't stomach anything for about 8 hours I full overfull qnd the pain is super bad in morning right through tea time and maybe eases slightly but I mean it's still a 10 on the pain scale but as I know I'm going to bed I can handle it because luckily I'm on a strong sleeping tablet. Not sure if that's affecting liver or that as march 2020 is when it started to feel like stomach was going to burst. Weird how you had the same issue start of lockdown for me.


I've learned snippets that my dad had issues that I didn't know about mum randomly comes out with things from the past. Not sure if it's genetic thing as I can't remember much about my grandad he passes when I was 10 but I remember he had a bag fitted and hated it.then died not long after.


Can't get much care for mother as she's under 65 she's 58. But me and my wife take care of her the best we can which we get a check up to make sure everything OK etc... so we always get signed off.


Sounds like you've got it under control qell done. Sounds like you live a solid life aswell very independent.


9 days until scan just hope they see something right there and then and try nip this as fast as possible. Christmas Time is coming favourite time of year and I go all out and right now the way I feel I don't think I could hike up and down and loft qnd up ladders settings stuff up bending over and over.


Never had a single pain med either because they think I might have ulcer and don't want to rupture them as they think might be multiple. Also said my stomach acid is eating my stomach then all in same appointment diagnosed with IBS.


I don't know if they fully know but trusting them they do and hopefully everything works out.


Goodluck to you and thank you for the advice